Clematis names `Evifour`

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Clematis having repeat flowering habit and suitable for growing in a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Clematis. Thevarietal denomination of the new variety is `Evifour`. It was discoveredas a seedling in a controlled planting of cultivated plants in St.Sampsons Parish, Guernsey, Channel Islands, Great Britain, and itsparents are not known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and known commercial clematis cultivars are thefollowing combination of characteristics: recurrent blooming habit andfree flowering characteristic, attractive violet flowers and compacthabit which makes it ideal for growing in containers. `Evifour` isasexually propagated by vegetative cuttings and asexual reproduction ofnew variety as performed by vegetative cuttings in Guernsey, ChannelIslands, Great Britain, shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photographic illustration shows the foliage, flowerbuds and flowers of the new variety, with different flowers shown invarious stages of maturity. The flower poise, contrasting colors, petalcount and petal characteristics are depicted. The domed boss of stamensis shown forming the attractive center of the flowers and the colorationand character of the foliage can be seen behind the flowers. Thecoloration shown in the photograph is as nearly correct as is possiblein color illustrations of this character. Throughout the specificationcolor values are based upon the Royal Horticultural Colour Chart, RoyalHorticultural Society of London, England, except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of clematis plants of the new cultivargrown under glass at Guernsey, Channel Islands, Great Britain throughoutthe flowering period. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental,cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditionsof light and soil.

Plant

A. Form: Upright climbing or spreading.

B. Growth: Medium growth, compact habit.

Height attained.--About 2 meters.

C. Foliage: Deciduous, compound -- tri-folate, sometimes simple.

1. Size.--Medium.

2. Quantity.--Average.

3. Color.--New foliage: Upper side -- light green, occasional rededging. Underside -- light green. Old foliage: Upper side -- green, near137A. Underside -- light green, near 137C.

4. Shape.--Lower leaves sometimes simple; normally 3 ovate leafles inpinnate form.

5. Texture.--Upper side -- glabrous, veined. Underside -- ribbed.

6. Edge.--Leaf edge occasionally shows red/purple.

7. Serration.--None.

8. Petiole color.--Top surface -- green/red. Underside -- green/red.

9. Stipules.--None.

10. Internodes.--Cylindrical. About 12 cm to about 17 cm.

11. Resistance to disease.--Subject to any disease that normally affectsclematis but less prone to mildew than some Clematis.

D. Wood:

1. New shoots.--Color -- light green, turning deep red/purple. Bark --smooth -- light white hairs.

2. Old wood.--Color -- light brown. Bark -- rough.

E. Hardiness: Zone 4-9.

Flower

A. Blooming habit: Recurrent.

B. Bud:

1. Size.--About 4 cm to about 5 cm.

2. Form.--Elliptic to ovate.

3. Color.--Green/grey turning slightly red with age, hairy.

C. Sepals: None -- tepals only.

D. Penduncle:

1. Length.--About 5 cm to about 8 cm.

2. Aspect.--Vertical.

3. Strength.--Erect.

4. Color.--Green, turning red/purple with age, near 59A.

E. Bloom:

1. Size.--About 12 cm to about 16 cm.

2. Borne.--Singly.

3. Form.--Tepals opening to become flat, tepal tip becoming recurvingwhen mature.

4. Petalage.--6 tepals.

5. Color.--Outer tepals: Top surface -- violet, near 83B. Undersurface-- violet, near 83C. Base of tepals: Pale violet. General tonality froma distance: Velvet.

6. Color change.--As bloom ages, colors lighten, though center of tepaloften remains dark, occasionally giving impression of darker centralbar. General tonality at a distance: Pale velvet.

F. Tepals:

1. Texture.--Medium/thick.

2. Appearance.--Top surface -- velvet. Under surface -- matt.

3. Form.--Obovate.

4. Arrangement.--Regularly arranged.

5. Petaloids in center.--None.

6. Persistence.--Tepals are persistent.

7. Fragrance, if any.--None.

8. Lasting quality on plant and after cutting.--About two weeks onplants, lasting only a few days as a cut flower.

Reproductive organs

A. Stamens, filaments and anthers:

1. Arrangement.--Regularly arranged.

2. Color.--Stamens: White base, red-purple tip. Filaments: White, apexpink-red. Anthers: Dark red/purple, near 71A.

B. Pollen:

Color.--Off white.

C. Styles: Bunched, even, average length.

D. Stigmas:

Color.--Pink-white.

E. Hips:

Shape.--None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Clematis substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.